The Curse of Blackbane - Chapter 16

Mammon's Greetings

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Chapter 16

Marshall savagely cursed when the ghoul’s jaws bit away his flesh before it quickly retreated. The creature chewed on the hunk of Marshall’s meat in its hand as the demon calmly picked up the lantern lying on the ground. The captain briefly glanced at his bleeding wound, then he pressed the back of his sword hand on the injury. He stared at the dark stranger, who kneeled in front of Marshall. The demon’s face showed no concern about the sword held by the pirate. Instead, he pointed the glowing light at Marshall’s face as he rose. The brightness caused the ghouls to recoil in pain because of their sensitive eyes.

“These creatures won’t feed on you if you decide to be reasonable. I’ve heard that you turned down one of my brothers. However, I have an offer which you should accept,” he told him, his eyes locking on Marshall’s.

“Alright, enough of the butter,” the Blackbane replied. “What are you offering?”

“Beelzebub offered you a fleet of ships for you to exact your vengeance upon that fat man in Tunis,” the stranger said with a grim smile. “I have something much more substantial for you to consider.” He paused for effect. “I’ll remind you that your flesh limits you. What if I promised to stop the pain and suffering of your curse? What if I offered you salvation?”

Marshall narrowed his eyes at the term.

“Who are you to offer such a thing?”

“Mammon is at your service, and I’m quite in earnest,” the fiend stated. “I enjoy sowing injustice in the world of man. Like you, I covet the precious things in life, such as gold and silver. I’m the god of avarice. You and I are brothers.”

“You talk of salvation, yet you’re fallen. I see no benefit to me.”

Mammon’s expression turned foul.

“I see you still carry that hideous symbol on your neck. I can remove that when you give your soul to me. You seek relief from your world of suffering and misery. The past will stop, along with your nightmares. You can join me and lift the burden you carry. I’m happy to let you join me. Let me become the way to your salvation. Look into my eyes and see what can be.”

As the man lay there, numb, but for the area of missing flesh from his arm, Marshall felt a strange calm overwhelm him. His mind screamed to look away; however, he stared into the dark eyes of the stranger. The captain saw an endless pool of soothing black water. It was a repulsive place to his mind, yet it felt suitably comfortable to the man. Mammon called him to join their souls together.

“Time sides with me, and it can come to you. All things coveted will embrace you for eternity.”

Powerful urges overcame the man’s resistance as he lay in the alley’s filth. He saw his hands ripping out the heart of a fat man who tried to protect his chest of treasures. Marshall felt ecstasy as a chain made of gold and silver coins enveloped him, binding around his chest. Like a snake, the chain tightened. Even though his breathing grew difficult, Marshall smiled at the precious metal which slowly smothered him.

“Away, you foul spawn of the underworld!”

The familiar sound of echoed along with a thread of foul sailor curses. The voice woke Marshall from his trance by an increasingly unbearable bright light which filled the alley. Blackbane pulled his Saint Gennaro dagger and backed into the wall. The lantern’s glow sent the ghouls into retreat from the area. The stranger calmly stood, shielding his eyes from the glare.

“He will be mine! A drunken brother cannot stop that,” Mammon growled as he held his ground.

Marshall finally recognized Leiras as he drew closer. The fat man fumbled with his robe, finally pulling out his silver cross. He extended it over his olive oil lantern. The light coming from the lamp grew even more intense as it reflected in the silver mirror. The sound of holy prayers chanted by the monk filled the air, and the dark shadows in the alley disappeared along with the ghouls.

“Mammon, get back to your sulfurous pit,” Leiras ordered before he recited the Lord’s Prayer in Latin. His words slurred enough that Marshall noticed he mispronounced several of the terms. Mammon’s face turned to a grimace at the prayer, and he backed away from his quarry.

“Blackbane, we’ll meet again. Think hard about my offer,” the demon told him. “Otherwise, I’ll have the ghouls strip you of your flesh while you beg to die. Then, I’ll grind your bones to powder. When I’m finished, you’ll find no vessel to hold your wondering soul.”

As the hideous noise of wailing souls emerged beneath the feet of the humans, the creature slowly turned into a dark mass of fog. The air stank of Sulphur and rotting flesh as the vapor sunk into the ground. Only the lantern he carried remained. It lay on the ground, the metal covered with a green patina.

In the sudden vacuum, the only sound came from the heavy breathing of the men. Marshall scrambled to his feet. Marshall went to retrieve his sword after sliding the blessed dagger into his belt. Leiras came to him.

“Are you badly wounded?” The monk used the light from the lamp to reveal Marshall’s injuries.

The captain asked for the monk’s flask. Leiras pulled out the silver flagon, taking a quick sip before handing it over. Marshall carefully poured the liquid on his wounded arm. The bleeding area still showed the teeth marks from the ghoul. He yelled out in pain, then he grabbed Leiras to keep from collapsing. Cleaning the next wound sent the captain into a frenzy of curses. The monk’s clumsy attempts to assist caused Marshall to pull away.

“Enough. Lead us to Aldert’s house, and I can look over the rest of my injuries there.”

The captain picked up his sword and slid it into the scabbard. Leiras scrambled to pick up his lamp and joined him. They walked out of the alley, and the monk guided them along the empty street. Before long, they found the canal leading to Aldert’s home.

“I thank you for the help,” Marshall told the monk. “I don’t believe I could stop him.”

“Probably not. Mammon has a way of looking inside a person. You’re lucky I stumbled upon you. I wondered where you went in this fog.”

Leiras directed them to cross the empty street as he used his lamp to light their path.

“It was strange. I normally don’t get lost,” the captain mumbled to himself. He looked over at his companion.

“How did you know his name?”

“The demons have their ways. They can look inside of you and show you a different world,” Leiras ignored the question. “You see what the demon intends for you to see. That’s how he guided you to the alley. You must remember to keep a trusted advisor by your side.”

“And you be that person?” Marshall wondered aloud.

The monk took a sip from his flask and nodded.

“Who else carries this sacred lamp?”

~~~